Antrim (FFG 20) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

and SHAREM-58 exercises off the coast of Puerto Rico. While deployed, ANTRIM ' S helo detachment was onboard readying itself for the upcoming deployment. The first week of December, ANTRIM was busy again, this time assuming flagship duties for Commander Des- troyer Squadron TWENTY-FOUR. Through the end of the year, ANTRIM enjoyed a brief and well-deserved break over the holidays while readying herself for the upcoming Middle East Force (MEF 2-85) deployment. On 4 February 1985, with a fair wind and early morning mists, ANTRIM deployed to the Middle East Force, her second extended deployment in almost as many years. Enroute, after crossing the Atlantic and her notorious heavy seas, ANTRIM made a brief stop at Rota, Spain and conducted a 3-day port visit to the island of Palma de Mallorca. Leaving behind the beauty of the Balearic Islands on 21 February, ANTRIM continued eastward, combating the heavy seas of the Mediterranean, and the French seafarer ' s eloquent term mal de mer. The 27th of February found ANTRIM transiting the famous Suez Canal as she continued her eastward transit to the Persian Gulf. Along the way many hours were spent in training evolutions and shipboard drills while steaming through the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, the final leg of her voyage to the Persian Gulf. From March through July, 1985, ANTRIM was constantly on alert in her Persian Gulf operating area. The hazardous environment of the Persian Gulf proved to be tested when ANTRIM was called upon to render assistance to the merchant vessels CARIBBEAN BREEZE and NORDIC TRADER, both of whom had been hit by missiles from Iranian F-4s. ANTRIM ' S ability to remain on station was commendable and noted on by COMIDEASTFOR. On 26 March, 1985, ANTRIM commenced a five-day upkeep in Dubai, U.A.E., which, of historical importance, became the first-ever upkeep for a U.S. Naval warship in that state. On 21 April, ANTRIM hosted her Second Annual Miss Karachi Contest while enroute to Karachi, Pakistan. The remainder of April and through the months of May and June, ANTRIM ' S operations schedule and upkeep periods in Bahrain kept her constantly on alert and ready for any task that may be required of her. On 5 Julv, ANTRIM was relieved on station by USS KLAKRING and USS REID in the Arabian Sea. Thus detached from her duties, she commenced a homeward transit. Stopping in Djibouti for fuel on 10 July, ANTRIM once again transited the Suez Canal on 14 July. Her next port-o-call was Valencia, Spain on 20 July for a 3-day port visit. Departing Valencia on the 23rd of July, ANTRIM continued on to Rota, Spain, arriving on the 24th. Sailing the same day, the course was set, and with the sun setting to the West, ANTRIM commenced her Atlantic transit, stopping in the Azores for fuel on 27July . The next stop for fuel and to bring aboard passengers for ANTRIM ' S Tiger Cruise was in Bermuda on the 2nd of August. Underway once again, ANTRIM ' S course was steadfast . . . home! In total, ANTRIM spent 151 days at sea and only 32 days inpt)rt during her deployment to the Persian Gulf. Those few, but memorable, port visits included: Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Dubai, U. A. E.; the island city of Manama, Bahrain; Karachi, Pakistan; and Valencia, Spain. In retrospect, ANTRIM ' S history is short, but now brings us to the present, with ANTRIM completing her extended deployment to the Middle East Force and subsequently arriving in her homeport of May port, P ' lorida on 5 August 1985. ANTRIM ' S reputation as a can do ship is well known throughout the Fleet. She was well named, for Rear Admiral Antrim was a man who sought the challenge, the first to step out in front, one to be counted on. Her future still lies ahead and her commitment to her motto, In Defense of Freedom, will always precede those who seek the challenge.

Page 8 text:

SHIP ' S fflSTORY The ship was the first unit of Destroyer Squadron Eight to be built in the Todd Seattle shipyards. After commis- sioning and loadout in October 1981, she moved south to the Panama Canal and east to her new homeport of Mayport, Florida. Enroute visits to San Diego, Mazatlan and Manzanillo, Me.xico and Rodman, Panama provided rare sightseeing opportunities for an east coast unit. Shortly after arrival in Florida, ANTRIM rescued three Mayport fishermen whose boat had capsized and left them stranded in high seas for two days hanging on to floating debris. The winter of 1981-82 was spent in the Caribbean conducting shakedown training with FTG, Guantanamo Bay and undergoing other new combat systems ' trials. Virtually every evolution from missile firings to underway replenishment to helo operations were tested in detail. The crew enjoyed port visits to Nassau, Fredricksted, St. Croix and Ocho Rios, Jamaica before returning to Mayport. The summer of 1982 was spent in Bath, Maine for a post shakedown availability (PSA). Throughout the first year, a warm relationship developed between the ANTRIM crew and the small town of Antrim, New Hampshire. Members of the town council attended the ship ' s commis- sioning ceremony in Seattle. From Bath, the ship ' s crew made many forays down to Antrim, and toward the end of PSA, a three-day festival called USS ANTRIM Days saw some 120 crewmen participate in a summer sports fete. Highlights included a parade, a traditional fireman ' s muster and town dance. The friendships have continued throughout the following years and no mailcall is complete without receiving letters from the town. From I ' SA, the ship returned to Mayport by way of Boston, Norfolk and Charleston. The winter of 1982- 83 was spent undergoing Refresher Training in Guan- tanamo Bay and participating in the predeployment READEX 1-83. In April 1983, ANTRIM departed Mayport on her maiden deployment, commencing seven months of service in the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas. One of the highlights of the cruise was a diplomatic visit to the Romanian seaport of Constanta on the Black Sea, an opportunity afforded only two Navy ships each year. In addition, the ship was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of the Multinational Peacekeeping Forces there. Some of the other ports visited were Valencia and Rota, Spain; Catania and Augusta, Sicily; Gaeta, Italy; Antalya, Turkey; and the French Republic of Djibouti; Karachi, Pakistan; and the island country of Bahrain. In February, 1984, ANTRIM deployed to the Eastern Pacific for Special Operations. Despite the tedious tempo of operations, ANTRIM ' S crew was able to enjoy such port visits as Puerto Cortez, Honduras and Rodman, Panama. On 11 March. ANTRIM ' S first Shellback initiation was conducted as the ship crossed the Equator. In April, 1984, ANTRIM was named SWOSCHOLCOM School Ship in Newport, Rhode Island. In May, she was detached from her duties and commenced transit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for her second ANTRIM Days Festival to be enjoyed with the people from the town which adopted her, Antrim, New Hampshire. The first week of May, 1984, found ANTRIM involved with a Training Readiness Evaluation (TRE) and then in June, was underway enroute the AUTEC range during which the ship participated as as platform for ASW School Ship. Shortly thereafter, after a brief stay in her homeport. ANTRIM again found herself underway enroute Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Interim Refresher Training (IRFT) which involved various exercises evaluating the crew and ship in Combat Systems and Damage Control readiness. On 26 September, 1984, ANTRIM celebrated her ,3rd Birthday. The remainder of the month and on through October, ANTRIM was involved with post SRA sea trials and weapons onloading in Charleston, South Carolina. On 1 November, ANTRIM set sail for COMPUTUEX 1-85

Page 10 text:

IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM A] COAT OF ARMS SHIELD: The colors dark blue and gold are traditionally associated with the Navy and represent the sea and excellence. The light blue and reversed star refer to the Medal of Honor awarded to Rear Admiral Antrim for heroic actions while in a Japanese POW camp at Makassar Celebes and Batavia, Java. The anchor symbolizes his naval career and the crossed crosslets, a personal device, represents his dedication to servic e. The cross throughout the shield is an allusion to the Navy Cross awarded Admiral Antrim for action in the Battle for Java Sea in the Dutch East Indies. CREST: The wreath is for outstanding gallantry and achievement. The palm denotes victory, and the laurel, honor. The torch symbolizes leadership and bravery. The portcullis represents POW imprisonment. The USS ANTRIM Coat of Arms was prepared by Nadine Russell of the Army Institute of Heraldry, Wash- ington, D.C. • rss iiichi Peru, Hegi Nava recoil causs thes event ;iiiki Thel m ar,i :heo force Tllr COK aere Antr adva